Aggies top 'Belt in some ways

LOGAN — One game into the 2003 football season is way too early to get all warm and fuzzy over how Utah State will stack up against the other members of the Sun Belt Conference.

The Aggies, like eight other conference teams, lost their season openers last weekend, but they scored the most points (20) and compiled the most total yards (357) and passing yards of any conference team.

The University of Utah, Utah State's opponent in its opener, boasts the toughest defense in the Mountain West Conference, and Utah State quarterback Travis Cox, in his first collegiate start, threw for 280 yards. On the ground, the Aggies rushed for 77 — 88 yards better than the last time the two teams met last year.

Utah State, Middle Tennessee and Arkansas State were the only teams to score in double figures, while the remaining teams scored seven points or less. Idaho was the only team to be shut out.

"Our league played some doggone good people. It's way, way early to draw any conclusion to how we are relative to the other Sun Belt Conference schools," Utah State coach Mick Dennehy said. "I'm not worried about that right now. I'm worried about us in terms of us becoming as good as we can be. We have a lot of room for improvement. Those are the things we'll concentrate on and hopefully be about as ready to go as we possible can. Hopefully we'll hit stride when we get to league."

The Aggies (0-1) open league play Sept. 27 when they host Louisiana-Monroe at Romney Stadium.

"Am I excited that we're leading the league in a lot of categories offensively at this point in time? Not really," Dennehy said.

The Aggies will face two more stellar opponents in Nebraska Saturday and Arizona State Sept. 13.

"I'm encouraged. I think we played better offensively. We had some questions, and I think we got some of those questions answered," Dennehy said.

AGGIES ON TV: For the first time since the 1997 Humanitarian Bowl, the Aggies will play on national TV this weekend against the Cornhuskers. The 10:30 a.m. MDT start, which is the earliest known start in USU history, will be televised on Fox Sports.

THE FAKE STUFF: The Aggies will be playing their third consecutive game on artificial turf Saturday. They are just 1-6 on artificial turf in Dennehy's era. Following the game at Memorial Stadium, the Aggies will play four of their next six games on grass.